In the ancient water city of Huanglongxi between temples and cuisine

To the south-west in the Chengdu plain, the city of Huanglongxi must be reached to immerse oneself in the typical architecture of a riverside village that has preserved the historical buildings erected during the Ming and Qing dynasties along the course of the streams. At the same time, it boasts a long tradition of tea cultivation, as evidenced by the many halls where this beverage can be tasted, just as horses have long been bred in Huanglongxi for travel and agriculture, while Buddhism has been practised since just as long ago. The layout of the old town consists of seven streets and nine alleys, along which stand three temples (the Gulong is the oldest compared to the Zhenjiang and Chaoying Temples, all located along Zheng Street) and the arboreal silhouettes of Ficus benghalensis specimens more than a thousand years old, considered a sacred symbol of fertility. Houses are erected on stilts and boast porches and wooden pillars. Also characteristic is the Chen watermill dating back to the Qing dynasty. In addition to buying a traditional dress in the many family-run tailor shops and ateliers, people also come here to enjoy the cuisine with its highly prized catfish, along with single-strand noodles, sesame pudding and crispy pork legs.